WHAT’S IN THE CARDS FOR TREVOR LAWRENCE?

Clemson quarterback Trevor Lawrence is the favorite to go No. 1 overall in the 2021 NFL Draft. That’s not exactly news. What may be news, though, is that Lawrence already has more than 240 autographed licensed trading cards, thanks to Leaf ’s 2018 Army All-American Bowl cards. Some of the autographs are on-card, others are stickers. But they are the first Lawrence autographs in a trading card release.

And they will be for a while, until he’s drafted and signed, and Panini produces the first college card of Lawrence. That’s assuming Lawrence declares for the NFL after this, his junior year.

Cards of high school players have been around for years in the trading card industry. But the interest in college football (whatever form it takes in this COVID-19 year) and these Leaf Army All-American cards offer content from players currently starring in the college ranks. As a “Michigan Man,” I bought a Dylan

McCaffrey 2017 Leaf U.S. Army All-American Bowl gameused patch and autograph more than a year ago. McCaffrey seems poised to take the starting QB reins for Jim Harbaugh’s Wolverines. I’ve had the card nearly as long as McCaffrey has been on campus.

It’s unique, and holds a great place in my collection.

Lawrence will have lots of autographs in the future, both in college gear and NFL. We all know the drill and expect nothing different. But that’s down the road. For now, he’s got plenty of other certified autographs to collect.

You don’t have to wait.